Hat and coat rack



Dec. 8, 1931. w. P. DE sAUssURE, JR 1,835,762

I HAT AND COAT RACK L.| lu- Q IU BY d la. A'rTRNEY 12, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 W. P. DE SAUSSURE, JR

HAT AND COAT RACK Filed Dec.

Patented Dec. 8, Y1931 krrr. VSra-TES `Artnr g f Langer K WILLIAM P. DE SAUSSU'RE, JR., GF ENGLlN/'QC)D,` NEW JERSEY, 'SSIGOR T0 DE i parts or units which may readily be assembled snnssunn EQUIPMENT COMPANY, or Wnsrnnw Year., new sanear, A Conro- RATION 0F DELAWARE HAT' AND coi-ir RACK y Application filed December 12, 1928. SeraLNo. 325,542.

The present invention relates to combined hat and coat racks, and has for'its general object the provision of an improved rack or support for coats and othergarments, hats, parcels and the like for use in restaurants and other places, which possesses the merits ot simple, compact and relatively-inexpensivek construction, and which' whilekmade up of and set up or disassembled, is, when assembled, particularly rigid and substantial. lMy

improved rack has the further advantages of being, if desired, readily portable when as-. sembled, and'ot occupying a comparatively smallspace in relation to itsl capacity as a holder or container for hats, garments and the like. Other advantages vvillappear herematter. .Y

To the above and other ends my invention consists in the features,y of construction, com

binations o1" devicesand arrangements of partsv hereinafter described andparticularly pointed out in the claims.

' The'invention will be thereof,

sectional view taken 50...

In the drawings,

1Eig. l is a side elevation ot a rack con-` sti-notedV in accordance with thej invention, parts being broken away to indicate that it may be of greater length than illustrated in the drawings; i i' Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the rack as shown in Fig. l but with a portionin Ysection AFig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentaryjdetail. l

YA the horizontalfra'me B which as persectional view taken j.-substantially on line --i of 2; i

Fig.

n substantially online GZ-GOFigQ, 1'

described kin'd'etail in connection with the drawings'vvhich illus-r trate the preferred form and modliications taken substantially on line enlarged fragmentary detail` 6 is an enlarged detaill fragment-aryl Fig. 7? is an enlarged fragmentary detailA sectional view taken substantially online 7 7 ot Fig. 2;

- Fig. 8 is aside elevation of a modified construction of rack having the feature of portability; f F ig. 9 illustrates a. urther'moditied constructionadapted `for attachment to a wall or other stationary support; 1 y

V Fg'lO. 'sa perspective view ot one of the hat supporting shelves; and y Fig. 1l is a perspective view of the lcoaty supporting.horizontal trame Y ot the rack.

Referring lirst'to the vconstruction shown in Figsrlto 7, inclusive, l0 and l1, the rack comprises a knock-downframework or skeleton structure' made up of a numberfof ldetachable elements or units. These elements `or units includetwo end frames each designated generally by the referencev character A, a lowerrsupporting trame B for garments such i as coats, and a plurality ot overlyingslielt Y elements C, D, E and F adapted to support hats, parcels and the like. |The end trames are set vertically and are detachably connect# ed by thehorizontalshelf'elements in such a Way as to provide a rigid structure as willv subsequently be set forth in detail.

, Each end frame A comprises a' pair of ver'- tical posts'. 10 Y spaced apart and held in rigid relationship by horizontal cross bars 11 and 1Q', the bar ll being positioned at a point aboutmidway the length of thel posts and the `bar 12 connecting their lower end portions. rThe postsI and the connecting cross barsv are o'tmetal and, as will be understood by reference to Figs. Q and 6, are square in` cross section and hollow, the parts being pret-r` Y haps most clearly disclosed in Fig. 1l is composed ot'a.` pair ot side'rails 13 formed ot langle bars connected at each end by a pair of cross bars 14 which preferably are angle Ete bars 14 are disposed so that they have de-V pending flanges and are spaced apart sufficiently to enable each pair of these depending flanges to receive between them one of the end frame cross bars 11. The frame B serves a double purpose, it being the main spacing and connecting frame between theV end frames A, while its side rails 13 also serve as supports for coats or other garments. To adapt the rails for supporting purposes in the construction shown they are so arranged that each has one flange m extending horizontally outward and perforated to provide a series of openings indicated at 15 suitably spaced apart to receive'the hooks or suspending members 16@ of garment or coat hangers 16. It will be Vnoted that the channels or grooves 17 provided by each pairof end bars 14 are adapted to slidably fit o-ver and thus detachahly engage'the cross bars 11.

When it is desired to give additional strength to the' frames B, as when their length 'is extended, the side rails may conveniently be ina-de ofthe necessary greater strength by forming them each oftwo angle bars arranged so that their opposite flanges are in contact', providing in effect an inverted T-bar.

The shelf'elementsC, D, E and F are sub` stantially alike, although, asclearly appears,

the lower shelf C differs slightly from the others. The shelves are most desirably constructed from stock material such as metal strips commonly referred to as chann and L-angle bars. Y Particularly referring to Figure 10, it will be seen that each shelf is composed'of a plurality of parallel spaced bars 18 connected at their ends by cross bars 21, the bars 18 as shown being channel bars set with their channel sides facing downward, except that the outermost bars, or side bars 18, are plain angle bars set with one flange extending inel bars ward horizontally and the other downward.y

The cross bars 21 are'preferably of angle iron so arranged that thefla-nge o of each is hori zontally disposed' and overlies the bars 18 while` the other flange p depends-'and in the shelves D, Ey and Fis spaced from the ends of the bars 18 as most clearly 'appears from Fig. 4. The bars 18"and the bars 21 are mest deL sira-bly connected by welding. The space be' tween the flange pand the associate ends of the bars 18 ofv the shelves D, E and F, which for convenience ofdescription is designate-d in Fig. 4 by the reference character 22, providesl asort of slot cr-channel-way which fits over horizontal ties or cross hars' 28 eX- tending between each pair of posts 10 toV which they are'welded or otherwise secured.

kcured/thereto as by screws or bolts 25.

The construction is such that the shelves are readily attached to Vor detached from the end frames A by reason of what may be called the slot and bar connection 22, 23. The cross hars or ties 23 are above the cross bars 11 of the-:end frames and so vspaced as to provide a suiiicient distance between the shelves to receive and accommodate on the shelves hats, parcels and the like. It is to be understoodl that the construction above described applies to the shelves D, E and F, the lowerinost shelf being supported on the frame B as hereinafter described.

Transverse bars 19 preferably of angle iron are arranged at intervals on the upper 'faces of the channel bars 18 and secured thereto in any suitable way, as by welding, the bars 19 serving the double purpose of lending rigidity and strength to the shelves and also affording convenient hat or parcel divisions. To the outer faces of the depending flanges a of the side bars '18 of each of the shelves are secured channel strips or grooved elements 20 adapted to receive cards, tickets or Vthe like (see Figs. l, 3, 5, Z and 10) The construction of all of the p shelves as above described is alike except that the lower `siderails 13 of the frame B as will be clear from Figs. 2, 3 and 7, but its outside bars 18 seat on the. upstanding iiang'es q ofthe side rails v13 with their depending flanges n outside the flanges g. The' flanges a cooperate with the outer ends of the transverse angle I bars 21 at the ends of the shelf C to forni in effect pockets n which cooperate with the flange @to prevent sidewise displacement of the shelf The shelf members when constructed as shown and described have been found in practice not to require intermediate bracing or supports unless the shelves are of very light material or the rack is very long. lf, however, the rack is of such length that the shelves would otherwise sag, the shelves may be prevented from sagging and the structure as a whole additionallyv strengthened by the employment of one or more pairs of vertical supports or bars 24 arranged inside the channel bars 18 of the upper shelves D, E and F, the

bars'241of each pair being secured as by screws or bolts 25 to one'of the angle hars 19 of the top shelf, and at their lower ends having eet 24 which restlon the tops of the channel bars 18 of the shelf C and are se- The intermediateshelves D and E' are supported byroffsets 242on the bars 24 which extend beneath cross bars 19 of the shelves.

lf the set-up rack is to remain in a stationary .posit-ion, the pos-ts 1'0 maybe faste-ned to the -licor in any suitable way as by angled cleats 26 secured in place as by screws 26', and in such ease lthe rack i-s, most desirably, longitudinally brac-ed Eby an angled brace 27 dragon lly arranged within and below the one end resting on the floor land secured thereto at and having its upper end secured at Q9 to a vertical strut 3() of one of the end frames A. Each end frame may have a strut 30 positioned between its pair of posts 10 and extending between the bars l1 and 12 of Athe end frame.

VVheu, however, the rack is to be portable, the. ilewer ends of the posts 1-0 may be provided with casters or rollers 31 and the rack .most desi rably braced by a frame or truss 3:2,as shown in Fig. '8. Theupper and low-er corners of the truss at each end are provided with higs or fingers 35 which extend downmnd and are received in sock-ets 36 on the 's of the end frames A, the constructinn affording ready application lof the truss to the iiacli and detachment therefrom. The truss is held in place by pivoted latches 36a.

The shelves C, D, E and F of the racks shown in Figs. 1 to 8 and 10 and 11 are of a width suflicient to receive and accommodate two rows ofhats which are putin from opposite sides, the angle bars 19 being so spaced as to provide. hat compartments of proper width. In practice it has been found that fourgarments or coats may conveniently be hung from each of the garment supporting rails 13 in the space correspon-ding to Vthe width of a` hat compartment, and the openings 15 for the garment hangers are spaced accordingly. There will thus be four hat compartments located one above another on the four shelves over each four hanger openings, or over each four hangers which may be hung on each of the rails 13,' and for each garment hung from either of the rails 13 there will be a compartment within easy reach for the accompanying hat. The hanger openings 15 are most desirably serially numbered or marked with other identifying indicia, and the corresponding1 hat compartments are correspondingly marked. In the construction shown, this marking is by means of strips or cards 20a bearing the numbers or other indicia placed in the channel strips 2O on the edges of the shelves. The numbers thus provided on the edges of the shelf C mark the hanger openings 15, and the first one of each four of these numbers marks the shelf C hat compartment; and the hat compartments of the shelves D, E and F are marked by numbers on the ledges of these shelves. When a coat and hat are checked. the hanger holding the coat is hung in one of the openings 15 in one of the rails 13 and the accompanying hat is placed in the correspondingly numbered hat compartment correspondingly numbered check.

above, the owner of the articles receiving a Tidor eX- ample, the owner whose coat is hung at position marked 1 will have his hat placed on shelf C immediately above; and the coat placed at 19 will have its companion hat in the compartment marked 119 directly above on shelf E. When a duplicate check system is used, the garments or other articles being taggedwith the number of the check given to the owner, will be placed on the rack at the correspondingly numbered positions.

In Fig. 9 is shown a modificati on which is particularly adapted to be applied to a wall or other stationary side support. The Fig. 9 construction is largely the same as that disclosed in Figs. 1 tot?. However, the rack is of single width to receive a single row of coats and asingle row of hats on each shelf, and the lower portions ofthe outer or suspended supporting posts 10a terminate at the frame B, the vloi'ver or leg portions of the prior construction being dispensed with. The posts 10a are spaced from the wall at each end of the rack, and the companion posts designated as are suitably attached directly to the wall or supporting element 37, the posts 10u and the posts c being connected at their tops by cross bars or braces 38 which extend diagonally upward from the posts 10a, as preferably the wall supports m are longer than the outer posts 10a.

The rack or holder provided by the present invention is simple and `inexpensive to construct, being made, if desired, almost entirely of stock material, and its framework, comprising members made of hollow tubing square in cross section, has nnusualrigidity combined with comparatively light weight. The rack is of knock-down construction so that it is readily assembled or taken apart for shipment or storage, without the use of tools, no screws or bolts being employed in setting` up the rack except when the brace 27 andthe bars 24: are used.

The plurality of parallel horizontal cross frames or shelf members detachably interlock with the vertical end frames through what has been referred toV as slot and bar connections, in such a way that while the cross frames may be readily slipped into and out of place, they constitute with the end frames when assembled a particularly tight and unyielding frame-work which iswithout looseness and consequent tendency to rattle or chatter. When set up for use. the rack presente an attractive appearance and its parts are so related as to provide a maximum of space for the accommodation hats, parcels and the like in a systematic manner which facilitates indentification and consequent speed of service.

Where in the claims such terms as hat and coat rack, coat supports, hat shelves and the like are employed, it isto be understood that of garments,

iis

these are not to be interpreted as limiting the rack to employment in connection with coats, hats and the like, specifically. Various changes may be made without departing from the invention.

W* hat I claim is:

l. A rack of the'character described, comprising vertical end frames each comprising two spaced hollow metal uprights square in cross-section connected by a cross bar of metal angular in cross-section welded thereto and having above said cross bar a plurality of shelf supporting` cross bars, and a detachable garment supporting frame connected to the first said cross bar, a hat shelf seated on said garment supporting frame, and a plurality of hat shelves detachably connected to said shelf supporting cross bars.

2. A knock-down hat and coat rack, having slreletonized vertical end fra-mes, and slreletonized horizontal connecting frames detachably connected to said end frames, one of said horizontal frames comprising longitudinal rails having outwardly extending flanges provided with openings to receive hooks of garment hangers.

3. A rack for the purposes described, which comprises a horizontal frame having garment supporting side rails each. having an outwardly extending garment supporting flan ge, hat shelf resting on said rails, said shelf being narrower than the frame to avoid interference with the function of the-side rails as garment supports and means for supporting said frame adjacent each end thereof.

- A. A rack for the purposes described, which comprises a horizontal frame having garment supporting side rails each having an upstanding flange and an outwardly extending garment .supporting flange, a hat shelf resting on said rails and provided with slots or seats which cooperate with the upstanding flanges of the rails to prevent sidewise 'I displacement of the shelf and means for supporting said frame adjacent each end thereof.

A rack for the purposes described, which comprises a horizontal frame having` garment supporting side rails, a hat shelf resting on said rails and provide-dv with slots or seats which cooperate with upstanding flanges of the rails to prevent sidewise displacement of the shelf, said rails also being provided with horizontal flanges extending beyond the sides of the shelf and having devices for receiving garment hangers and means for supporting said frame adjacent cach end thereof.

(i. A rackV for the purposes described, comprising end supports, and a plurality of shelves connecting said end supports, each shelf comprising a plurality of longitudinal bars connected at their ends by cross bars each of which cross bars has a downwardly extending flange spaced from the ends of the longitudinal bars to provide a slot-way or channel cooperative with portions of the end supports.

7. A rack for the purposes described, comprising end supports, and a plurality of shelves connecting` said end supports, each shelf comprising a plurality of longitudinal bars connected at their ends by cross bars each of which, cross bars has a downwardly extending flange spaced from the ends of the longitudinal bars to provide a slot-way or channel cooperative with portions of the end supports, and strengthening bars spaced apart and fixed at intervals transversely of the longitudinal bars, said strengthening bars providing hat compartments.

8. ln a coat and hat rack, a shelf comprising a plurality of spaced bars extending longitudinally of the shelf, an angle iron cross bar at each end of the shelf having one flange thereof secured to the upper surface of the longitudinal bars and the other flange extending downwardly and spaced from the ends of the longitudinal bars to provide achannel, and transverse angle barssecured to the ripper surfaces of said longitudinal bars at intervals in the length of the shelf.

9. A hat and coat rack, comprising two end frames each including pair of spaced supporting posts connected intermediate their ends by a cross bar, a horizontal coat supporting frame including a pair of spaced side rails connected at their ends by transverse members having spaced depending flanges to'provide a channel at each end of the coat frame to detachably receive and of a width to Vfit over said cross bars of the end frames, and superposed hat supporting shelves extending between said end frames and having a detachable interlocking engagement with said end frames, whereby the rack is braced.

10. A hat and coat rack comprising two end frames each including a pair of spaced supporting posts connected their ends by a cross bar, a horizontal coat supporting frame including a pair of spaced side rails connected at their ends by transverse members having spaced depending flanges to provide a channel at each end of the coat frame to detachably receive and slip over said cross bars of the end'frames, a hat shelf having depending members fitting down over said sine rails of the coat frame, and outwardly extending flanges on said side rails of the coat frame projecting beyond said hat shelf to be detachably engaged by a plurality of coat suspending devices.

11, A hat and coat rack, comprising two end frames each including a pair of spaced supporting posts connected intermediate their ends by a cross bar, a horizontal coat supporting frame including a pair of spaced side rails connected at their ends by transintermediate verse members having spaced depending anges to provide a channel'at each end of the coat frame to detachably receive and slip over said cross bars of the end frames, superposed tie rods extending between the posts of each end frame above the cross bar, and a plurality of hat shelves each formed with transverse channels on the underside of its end portions to receive and lit over adjacent tie rods on the end frames, whereby said coat frame and hat shelves are in detachable in* terlocking engagement and said rack structure is braced.

12. A hat and coat rack, comprising two end frames each including a pair of spaced supporting posts connected intermediate their ends by a cross bar, a horizontal coat supporting frame including a pair of spaced side rails connected at their ends by transverse members having spaced depending anges to provide a channel at each end of the coat frame to detachably receive and slip over said cross bars of said end frames, superposed tie rods extending between the posts of each end frame above the cross bar, and a plurality of hat shelves each formed with transverse channels on the underside of its end portions to receive and iit over adjacent tie rods on the end frames, whereby said coat frame and hat shelves are in detachable interlocking engagement and said rack structure is braced, said end :trames each further having a transverse cross bar connecting the posts thereor1 adjacent the lower ends of the latter, a vertical strut positioned between said cross bars on the frame and connected thereto, and a brace member eX- tending between said frames and detachably connected to said struts.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. Y

WILLIAM P. DE SAUSSURE, JR. 

